Devils/Rangers Series Opener Down From Last Year

The Battle of the Hudson River in the Eastern Conference Final started off with a lower number than last year on the NBC Sport Network.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers drew 1.28 million viewers, down 20% from Game 1 between Boston and Tampa Bay in 2011, which scored 1.54 million viewers.

Currently waiting on local ratings, which likely set a record in the New York market. Game 1 is the 15th game of the 2012 Playoffs to crack one million viewers, up from 10 at this point last year.

Games Drawing Over One Million Viewers During the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Cable

What is going to hurt the eastern conference finals ratings is that you have two teams in the same market. They do not have another city invested. And nobody in the new york market cares about the devils. Its all about the rangers..

Let’s be logical. First…Boston is a better hockey market than New York. As for these numbers…the same Ranger fans that watched gm 7 vs Washington watched this game. What changed? The opponent….they lost 200,000 Capitals fans and replaced those with the 20,000 Devils fans in New Jersey. The fact is…if you live in New Jersey you are either a Ranger fan…a Flyer fan….or NOT a hockey fan! Why do you think they have their Stanley Cup parades in a parking lot……..

Nothing you’ve said has any logic or sense whatsoever. Parking lot parades have nothing to do with Game 1 ratings. You’re just trolling. Look at the record local numbers for the New York market and the great ratings the Devils have garnered this year. The 20% drop for Game 1 can probably be attributed to the national interest in low-scoring games, not the local.

The Devils have NO fans. Their brand new arena is half empty every nite. Games 3 & 4 will be 75% Ranger fans. What more evidence do you need….? The Devils have never been able to connect with the people of New Jersey. They should be doing a 20 share in cities in New Jersey like Pittsburgh does PA………